Newsletter ~ November 8

        November Greetings Rascal Families,

Thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedules and meeting with me to discuss our favorite subject...your child.  I loved having 30 minutes exclusively with you!  The remaining conferences are on Friday.  A substitute will be in for me while I meet with families in the office conference room on that day.

Yes, it is true!!! A real tepee is in the Block area. It's been re-named...TEPEE Land! The children will be painting “paper animal skins” to cover the tepee frame. We all agree….it’s the perfect home!!! Do come in for a “sitting”!

Another short week in kindergarten has come and gone. The children have been learning about the Native Americans. Ask your child how the Native Americans and the Pilgrims communicated. The children will learn how to read and copy Indian symbols such as hunt, boy, river, tepee, fire, etc. We’ve also enjoyed singing songs about Thanksgiving. An all time favorite is “Albuquerque Turkey”! A hard copy of the words to this song will be sent home with your kinder today. The children are looking forward to making a bagged Albuquerque Turkey to take home at the end of the month.

They’re thrilled about having a pet turkey on a leash!

Tis the season for Thanksgiving projects. Edible gingerbread and sugar cookie turkeys are in the plans. We’re going to decorate hand-shaped cookies to look just like turkeys.

Many ingredients are needed, so we are asking for $2.00 from each child. Please place money in an envelope with your child’s name on it and send it to school on or before Wednesday, November 14. Calling all cookie bakers to contact me today. Thank you!

Thankful thoughts are a BIG part of our discussion this month. Each child will have the opportunity to share what he/she is thankful for during Show and Tell on Tuesday. Our focus is going to be on things money can’t buy. Talk about it this weekend to rehearse what thankful thought your child will share on Tuesday. Your favorite kindergartner’s thankful thoughts will touch your heart.

Counting is a daily activity. Teen numbers have been introduced. They’re very tricky. Counting, recognizing and sequencing teen numbers will continue throughout the 2012- 2013 days. Let’s practice at home, too. We all agree they are extremely challenging!  Here's a you tube that has helped us remember the teen pattern...all teen numbers begin with a one.  Click on the arrow to view it.
                                          
                                  Teen Numbers Always Start With A One

Since the beginning of school, the children have enjoyed making class books.  They are very proud of having individual journals and showing off their Literacy Talents. 

Each child draws and then writes a story about his/her illustration.  He/She spells

words the way they sound; and not necessarily the way adults would spell them.  This method of  recording is called "smartie spelling"; and helps build a good phonetic foundation.  Many of us are hearing beginning and ending consonant sounds.  Others can hear middle sounds, too.  Several of us are hearing vowel sounds and writing words.  Some of us are ready to write sentences!  As you look at the photos you'll notice we're all at different levels as we show off the "write" stuff.

The children are enthusiastic about illustrating, writing and reading their very own journals!

Academics and fun is the plan for this month. A perfect mix, don't you think?  During the remaining days in November kinders will be introduced to the letter sounds Dd, Pp and Aa along with new sight words: of, am. We’re experts at demonstrating the sounds we’ve already learned: Ss and Mm. Ask us all about them!

Remember there is NO school on Monday, Veterans' Day.  Enjoy the long weekend!

                                      Gobble!!  Gobble!!!

                                            June A. Rich